Lightburn elderly hospital in Carntyne has been earmarked for closure by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, according to leaked documents.

And maternity units at the Vale of Leven Hospital in West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde Hospital in Greenock could also be closed, and childrens' emergency care could be transferred out of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Ms Sturgeon said she had not seen the leaked document but insisted the closures are currently "perhaps, at most, proposals".

She also said she "will not approve proposals" which run counter to the Vision for the Vale plan she approved as health secretary in 2009 which "guaranteed the Vale of Leven Hospital a safe and secure future".

However, NHS Greater Glashow and Clyde have confirmed this evening that they are planning to make changes, with final decisions expected by the end of the year.

Vale of Leven Hospital

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokeswoman said: "The board is planning to engage with the public and patients on a range of service changes during this year with a view to making final decisions in late 2016.

"Changes being considered include a redesign of midwifery-led services within Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

"Formal proposals will go to the August meeting of the board and, if approved, the proposals will then be the subject of a full public engagement with an expectation that a final decision will be reached by the board at the end of the year. That decision will take account of the outcome of the current national review of maternity services.

"When the Vision for the Vale was approved in 2009, this included a commitment to sustain and promote the service for a period of three years to encourage more women to give birth locally at the unit.

"In spite of this, the number of births at the unit has continued to decline, to the current figure of around 60 a year.

"This is the context within which the proposals for the redesign of services will be brought forward."